Winding mechanism for deck hoists



Nov M 1950 G. E. DATH 2,529,597

WINDING MECHANISM FOR DECK HOISTS Filed April 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 44 fi ..J.

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Patented Nov. 14, 1950 WINDING MECHANISM FOR DECK HOISTS George E. Dath, Mokena, Ill., assignor to W. H.

Miner, Inc, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Delaware Application April 12, 1947, Serial No. 741,034

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in chain winding mechanisms for deck hoists of railway cars.

One object of the invention is to provide a manually actuated mechanism for raising and lowering the upper deck of a railway car, comprising a chain winding shaft extending lengthwise of the car, a hand wheel actuated worm element, and a worm wheel driven by the worm element and operatively connected to the shaft for rotating the same to wind and unwind the chains, wherein the driving connection between the winding shaft and the worm wheel is arranged to permit lengthwise sliding movement of the shaft with respect to the worm wheel, thereby relieving the bearings and other parts of the mechanism of end thrust and protecting the same against damage.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for mounting a manually actuated winding mechanism, of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph, on the car, comprising an enclosing housing of simple design with which the parts of the mechanism may be readily assembled.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevational view of my improved winding mechanism showing the same suspended from the bottom of the body portion of a railway car. Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of my improved winding mechanism, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 3. Figure 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the wind ing mechanism shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line -t of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the split sleeve which forms the connection between the winding shaft and worm wheel of my improved mechanismv Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view through the winding shaft of my improved winding mechanism, the section being on the same plane as Figure 2.

In said drawings, it indicates broadly a part of the bottom portion of the body of a railway stock car of a well-known type, having the usual upper deck or floor, which is arranged to be hoisted to out of the way position immediately below the roof of the car, thereby making the same convertible to the single deck type, the deck being arranged to be raised and lowered by the usual chain hoisting means, comprising a plurality of sets of lifting chains arranged at inter- 6 vals along the length of the car and adapted to be wound on the winding shaft which extends lengthwise of the car.

In carrying out my invention, I provide broadly a winding shaft A, a worm wheel B for rotating the shaft A, a worm element C meshing with the worm wheel, a hand wheel D for actuating the worm element, and a split connecting sleeve E between the worm wheel B and the shaft A.

The operative parts of the worm gear means, comprising the worm wheel B and the worm element C, together with the sleeve E, are contained in a housing ll, having oppositely projecting, laterally extending pairs of cars l2-| 2 and I2| 2 at the top thereof by which it is suspended from underneath the body of the car at one side of the same, the ears l2 being secured to the sill l3 of the car. and to a supporting bracket !4 mounted on the side of the car by bolts E5. The housing it comprises a hollow, drumlike portion 16 and a laterally projecting chamber ii of smaller size, communicating with the interior of the drum portion. The drum portion 56 has vertically dis-- posed, spaced, front and rear walls 18 and it, an arcuate bottom wall 29 connecting the lower ends of the front and rear walls, a vertical end wall 2| at the outer side extending upwardly from the arcuate wall 29, and a horizontal top wall in the form of a cover plate 22. The front and rear walls l8 and i9 areextended above the drum portion [6 and have the securing ears l2 formed thereon.

The front and rear walls l8 and H! are also extended inwardly beyond the drumlike portion IS and form the front and rear walls of the chamber i1, said inwardly extended portions of the walls being curved and spread apart, as shown. At their extremities, the inwardly projecting portions of the walls [8 and I9 have laterally outwardly projecting, vertically extending flanges I23, to which a cover plate 23 is secured, which closes the inner end of the chamber H. The cover plate 23 is outwardly offset between the top and bottom ends thereof, said offset portion being transversely curved or bowed outwardly to provide clearance for the worm element C which is contained in the chamber ll. The bottom wall of the chamber H, which wall is indicated by 24, is relatively thick and forms a continuation of the front and rear walls and arcuate bottom wall of the drum portion H5. The upper end of the chamber I! is closed by a top wall 25, which extends from the front wall to the rear wall thereof. A relatively short, vertical partition wall 26, in the form of a transversely curved web, dependin from the top wall 25 and extending from the front to the rear wall, separates the upper portion of the chamber I! from the interior of the drumlike portion 16. The partition wall 26 and the front and rear walls at the upper end of the chamber I'I, together with the upper end portion of the cover plate 23, define a bearing socket 21, which is formed partly on the cover plate and these walls of the chamber. The chamber IT is further provided with a bottom bearing opening 28, extending through the bottom wall 24. The walls of this bearing opening are formed partly on the bottom end portion of the cover plate 23 and the wall 24. The bearing socket 21 and the bearing opening 28 are in vertical alignment and serve as bearings for the upper and lower ends of the worm element C.

The cover plate 22, which close the top of the drumlike chamber I B of the housing II, is

disposed between the front and rear walls I8 and I9 and is detachably secured at opposite ends, respectively, to the top of the chamber I1 and the upper end of the wall 2| of the drumlike portion by screws 2929, the wall 2I being outwardly flanged at its upper end, as indicated by 30, to reenforce the same.

The front and rear walls I8 and I9 of the portion I6 of the housing are provided with aligned circular bearing openings 3| and 32 reenforced by outwardly projecting, annular bearin flanges or sleeves 33 and 34, which form continuations of said bearing openings. The bearing opening 32 is of considerably larger diameter than the opening 3|.

As is common practice, in connection with deck hoists of railway cars, the chain winding shaft A extends lengthwise of the car from end to end of the same and is arranged to have the hoisting chains wound thereon. The shaft A extends through the housing, being accommodated in the openings 3| and 32 of the front and rear walls I8 and I9, as shown most clearly in Figures 2. 3, and 4. The shaft A, with the exception of the portion 35 thereof, which extends through the housing, is of cylindrical cross section throughout its length. The portion 35 of the shaft is of square cross section and of smaller size than the cylindrical portions thereof, that is, the distance between opposite sides of said portion of square cross section is less than the diameter of the shaft. Stop shoulders 36 and 3! are thus provided at opposite ends of the square portion 35.

The worm wheel B is arranged within the housing II between the walls I8 and I9 and is operatively connected to the shaft A to effect rotation of the latter, by the sleeve E, which is split lengthwise, being composed of two similar parts 38-38, embracing the square portion 35 of the shaft, the sleeve E having a square bore to fit said square portion. The sleeve E is provided with a central portion 39 of square exterior cross section, fitting within an axial opening 40 of square shape in the worm wheel B. The left hand end of the sleeve E, as seen in Figures 4 and is of circular cross section to provide a cylindrical bearin portion 4|, which is journaled in the opening 3i of the sleeve 33 of the housing. The bearing portion M is of greater length than the sleeve 33 to permit sliding movement of the sleeve E to the right, as seen in Figure 4, without being disengaged from the bearing sleeve 33. The opposite end of the split sleeve E is also of circular cross section to provide a cylindrical bearing portion 42. The bearing portion 42 is of greater diameter than the portion 4| and is journaled in the opening 32 of the bearing sleeve 34 of the wall I9 of the housing. The opening 40 of the worm wheel B is of such a size that the bearing portion 4| of the split sleeve E is adapted to pass freely therethrough, and the dimensions of the cylindrical portion 42 and the square portion 39 of the sleeve E are such that these portions of the sleeve will pass freely through the opening of the bearing sleeve 34 of the housing.

As will be evident, the worm wheel B is supported for rotation by the sleeve E, which has its opposite ends journaled in the bearings 0f the housing, the sleeve being rotatable in unison with the worm wheel and lengthwise slidable with respect to the same, and the shaft A being rotatable in unison with the sleeve E and lengthwise slidable in the latter. A stop in the form of a cotter pin 43, engaged through the wall of the bearing sleeve 34, limits outward movement toward the right of the sleeve E, as seen in Figure 4.

The worm element C is arranged within the chamber I! of the housing and meshes with the worm wheel E, having a cylindrical bearing portion 44 at its upper end journaled in the bearing socket 21 and an integral shaft portion 45 at its lower end, extending through and journaled in the bearing opening 28 at the bottom of said chamber. The worm element is rotated by the hand wheel D, which is secured to the lower end of the shaft 45.

In assembling the mechanism, the worm wheel B is first placed within the housing II, between the walls I8 and I 9, being entered through the open top portion of the housing. The split bearing sleeve E is then placed about the square portion 35 of the shaft A, and the shaft with the sleeve E thereof are assembled with the housing by being entered through the bearing opening 32, the square portion of the sleeve E being engaged within the square opening of the worm wheel, and the cylindrical bearing portion 4| and 42 thereof being engaged within the bearing openings 3| and 32 of the bearing sleeves 33 and 34. The worm element C is then seated in the chamber I"! in mesh with the worm wheel B and the cover plates 23 and 22 are secured in place and the cotter pin 43 applied through the wall of the bearing sleeve 34.

The operation of my improved chain winding mechanism is as follows: Rotation of the hand wheel D imparts rotation to the shaft A through the intermeshing worm element C and worm wheel B, rotation of the wheel B being transmitted to the shaft A by the split connecting sleeve E. Rotation of the shaft A in one direction effects winding of the hoisting chains thereon to raise the deck of the car in a well-known manner, and rotation in a reverse direction effects lowering of the deck.

As will be evident, the shaft A, which extends from one end to the other of the car, has considerable weight, and being subjected to longitudinally acting jolts and jars in stopping and starting of the car, has a tendency to be displaced lengthwise in opposite directions. In my improved construction, the bearings and other parts of the mechanism are relieved of such jolts and jars by the sliding arrangement of the shaft A in the sleeve E and the sliding arrangement of the latter in the worm Wheel B and the bearings of the housing II, thus protecting the parts against damage which would otherwise occur, the shaft A being slidable to the left in the sleeve E, as seen in Figure 4, and the sleeve E being slidable to the right in the housing I I and the worm wheel B. Relative sliding movement of the sleeve E and the shaft A is limited by engagement of opposite ends of the sleeve with the shoulders formed by the junctions of the square and round portions of the shaft A, and sliding movement of the sleeve with respect to the housing is limited by engagement of the right hand end of the sleeve, as seen in Figure 4, with the cotter pin 43, and shouldered engagement of the square section 39 of the sleeve with the wall [8 of the housing.

I claim:

1. In a chain winding mechanism, the combination with a worm Wheel; of a rotary Worm meshing with said worm wheel, said Worm wheel having an axial opening therethrough of angular cross section; a housing enclosing said worm wheel and worm; a lengthwise divided, two-part bearing sleeve having its opposite ends journaled in the housing, said sleeve having a portion of angular cross section slidingly telescoped in the angular opening of said worm wheel, said sleeve having an angular bore; and a cylindrical winding shaft having a reduced portion of angular cross section between its ends slidingly telescoped within the angular bore of said sleeve.

2. In a chain winding mechanism, the combination with a worm wheel; of a rotary worm meshing with said worm wheel; a housing enclosing said worm wheel and worm, said housing having laterally spaced walls closely embracing said worm wheel at opposite sides to hold the Worm wheel against endwise movement, said walls having axially aligned bearing openings extending therethrough, said worm wheel having an axial opening of angular cross section; a lengthwise divided, two-piece bearing sleeve having cylindrical bearing portions at opposite ends and an intermediate portion of angular cross section slidingly fitting within the opening of said Worm wheel, the cylindrical portion at one end of said sleeve being of a diameter to freely pass through said angular opening of the worm Wheel; a bearing opening in one of said walls within which said last named cylindrical bearing portion is journaled; a bearing opening in the other of said walls in which the cylindrical bearing portion at the other end of the sleeve is journaled, said last named bearing opening be;

ing of a size to permit said angular portion of the sleeve to pass freely therethrough, said sleeve having lengthwise sliding movement in said bearing openings of said walls and the angular opening of said worm wheel, said sleeve having a bore of angular cross section; and a cylindrical chain winding shaft having a reduced portion of angular cross section between its ends fitting said angular bore of the sleeve, said angular portion of the shaft being slidingly telescoped within said sleeve.

3. In a chain winding mechanism, the combination with a worm wheel; of a rotary worm meshing with said worm wheel; a housing enclosing said worm wheel and worm, said housing having laterally spaced walls disposed at opposite sides of said worm Wheel, said walls having aligned bearing openings, one of said openings being of larger diameter than the other, said worm Wheel having an axial opening of square cross section coaxial with said bearing openings; a two-piece, lengthwise divided sleeve having cylindrical bearing portions at opposite ends rotatably iournaled and slidingly engaged in said bearing openings, said sleeve having an intermediate portion of square cross section telescopically fitting said square opening of said Worm wheel, said square portion of said sleeve being of a size to pass freely through said bearing opening of larger diameter, and the bearing portion at the end of said sleeve engaged within the bearing opening of smaller diameter being of a diameter to freely pass through said square opening of the worm wheel, said sleeve having a bore of square cross section; and a cylindrical chain winding shaft having a reduced portion between its ends of square cross section having a lengthwise sliding fit within the square bore of said sleeve.

4. In a chain winding mechanism, the combination with a worm wheel; of a rotary worm meshing with said worm wheel; a housing enclosing said worm wheel and worm, said housing having laterally spaced walls disposed at opposite sides of said worm wheel, said walls having aligned bearing openings, one of said openings being of larger diameter than the other, said worm wheel having an axial opening of square cross section coaxial with said bearing openings; a two-piece, lengthwise divided sleeve having cylindrical bearing portions at opposite ends rotatably journaled and slidingly engaged in said beanng openings, said sleeve having an intermediate portion of square cross section telescopically fitting said square opening of said Worm wheel, said square portion of said sleeve being of p a size to pass freely through said bearing opening of larger diameter, said sleeve having a bore of square cross section; and a cylindrical chain winding shaft having a portion of reduced thickness between its ends, said portion being of square cross section and having a lengthwise sliding fit within the square bore of said sleeve.

5. In a chain winding mechanism, the combination with a housing having a drurnlike chamber and a second chamber communicating with said drumlike chamber, said drumlike chamber being open at the top and having spaced side Walls; of a rotary Worm supported in said second named chamber; a worm wheel in said first named chamber between the spaced sidewalls thereof, said worm meshing with said worm wheel, said walls having aligned bearing openings extending therethrough, said worm wheel having an axial opening aligned with the bearing openings of said walls; a lengthwise split sleeve having its opposite ends journaled in said hearing openings and having an intermediate portion extending through and fitting the opening of said worm wheel; a shaft extending through said sleeve, said sleeve having driving engagement with said shaft; and a detachable cover plate closing the top of said drumlike chamber.

GEORGE E. DATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,661,988 Ayres Mar. 6, 1928 1,684,665 Edwards Sept. 18, 1928 1,721,565 Lee July 23, 1929 1,843,875 Kendall et al Feb. 2, 1932 2,248,706 I-Iindahl July 8, 1941 2,414,032 Fawkes Jan. 7, 1947 

